Lawrence E. Hansberry

KITTERY, Maine -Lawrence E. Hansberry died peacefully at Portsmouth Regional Hospital after a determined and courageous fight against cancer on July 5, 2013.

He was born in Norristown, Pa., on March 19, 1942, son of the late Harry and Maude (Carpenter) Hansberry.

At the age of twelve his family moved to Tampa, Fla., where he graduated from Plant B. High. After high school graduation, he proudly served in the U.S. Navy, where he attended and taught many schools and was stationed on several ships and submarines. In addition to others, he made several patrols on the USS John Adams and the George Bancroft, both Poseidon submarines, where he supervised in the Missile Control Center. He was very proud of his service to his country and cherished his Naval career, living in Charleston, N.C., Great Lakes, Ill., and Virginia Beach, Va. He retired from the Navy in 1980 after twenty years of service, and taught the submariners of Saudi Arabian Royal Navy for three years.

Following that, he and his wife owned and operated a family video/audio store in Virginia Beach for 5 years. After selling the business, he and his wife taught at Tidewater Tech and then became department heads. When they moved back to Maine in 1990 to be near his wife's parents, Larry left the position of campus director at Tidewater Tech. The year at Tidewater Tech was the most rewarding year of their lives, as they helped shape the lives of young adults. Once in Maine, he taught computer software for several small companies, and then he started a computer business, which he later sold as his health started to decline. For the past twelve years, he had the rewarding experience of teaching computer software to the residents of Riverwoods at Exeter, and thoroughly enjoyed the residents and he friendships he made there.

He was a member and Deacon of Second Christian Congregational Church in Kittery, and has served on numerous committees since he joined the church in 1990. His loves included singing with the church choir and the Stairwells, a local a cappella group, carpentry, listening to 60's music, visiting with friends, computers, and traveling.

He leaves his wife Elaine of 48 years; a son, David Hansberry and his wife Jennifer of Deerfield, N.H.; his sister, Joanne Whitted of Hudson, Fla.; his half brother Robert Hansberry and several nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, as well as many friends who loved him dearly. He was predeceased by his parents, Harry and Maude Hansberry, a son, Bruce Hansberry, a sister Nancy Barton, a half sister Earlene Wunder, and a half brother William Hansberry.

Friends may visit with Larry's family on Friday from 6-8 pm in the JS Pelkey Funeral Home 125 Old Post Road Kittery Maine 03904. A funeral will be held on Saturday at 11 a.m. in his church, the Second Christian Congregational United Church of Christ on Governmant Street in Kittery with the Rev Brad Hirst officiating. Family flowers only, donations maybe made in his memory to his church. Care for the Hansberry family has been entrusted to the JS Pelkey Funeral Home.